TUSCALOOSA — In the hours after it was announced Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished second to Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray in the 2018 Heisman Trophy balloting, multiple Crimson Tide players voiced their displeasure over social media.

A week later, after No. 1 Alabama returned to the practice fields Friday, most are just ready to move on and prepare to face Murray and the fourth-ranked Sooners in the Orange Bowl national semifinal Dec. 29 in Miami.

“That’s our teammate, our brother, our leader, so of course, everybody (around here) wanted him to win — I wanted him to win,” junior safety Deionte Thompson said. “but he came up short, so it’s nothing personal. Kyler had a great season, Tua did a good job this season. The Heisman Trophy ceremony is over and done with, they awarded (Murray), so let’s move on and play football.”

Considered the runaway Heisman favorite much of the regular season, Tagovailoa finished second with 1,871 total points, which were the most ever for a Heisman runner-up, including 299 first-place votes and a nation’s-leading 431 second-place votes. Tagovailoa was among 90.64 percent of the ballots cast, while Murray was on 92.03 percent, the third highest all-time.

Junior middle linebacker Lyndell "Mack" Wilson also tweeted his support of Tagovailoa: “Make them regret it 13 (Tagovailoa’s number) … Not saying Kyler isn’t good but he took 200 snaps more than Tua” with a shrugging emoji.

Make them regret it 13.. Not saying Kyler isn’t good but he took 200 snaps more than Tua 🤷🏾‍♂️

Even Crimson Tide offensive line coach Brent Key tweeted the hashtag #Dec29, a clear reference to the date Alabama and Oklahoma meet in the Orange Bowl.

That said, some of Tagovailoa’s teammates were willing to acknowledge Murray’s impressive statistics this season likely led to his overwhelming victory.

Murray leads the nation with 4,945 total yards and 51 combined touchdowns, including a Big 12-leading 4,053 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns through 13 games this season, as well as a FBS-best 205.72 passer rating, which is just 3.42 points ahead of Tagovailoa's SEC-leading efficiency rating.

“Of course, I was rooting for (Tagovailoa) because he plays on my team,” Tide junior tailback Josh Jacobs said, “but Kyler had an awesome season, he’s put up crazy numbers, and I wouldn’t want to take that away from him. Congratulations for that.”

Williams excited to graduate Saturday

Alabama junior offensive tackle Jonah Williams has accomplished a lot in his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, including being named a unanimous All-American last week.

The former five-star signee and three-year starter will check off one final box Saturday when he graduates with his degree in marketing.

"It's exciting. It was one of my big goals coming here, to start, be an All-American and graduate in three years,” Williams said Friday. “It was kind of a plan that was set in motion in high school. … I think that it's a testament to obviously my work, but everything the academic staff does (here). … So that's a big plus. Being able to take 15 hours every semester. Marketing and business, that's kind of where I want to be. I'm excited about it."

Williams is among 15 Crimson Tide football players receiving degrees Saturday, but one of just three doing so in just three years in college, including fellow true junior quarterback Jalen Hurts and redshirt sophomore tight end Miller Forristall.

"Yeah, we're excited about it. We took a picture together today because we're like, it feels like yesterday that we came in and had zero credits, zero games started, zero any of that,” Williams said. It's cool to go through all that with your friends and your brothers. To all have success in the end is priceless."

► Alabama starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (ankle) was dressed out and going through individual drills with the other quarterbacks less than two weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain early in the SEC Championship Game, an injury that required him to undergo a minor arthroscopy procedure to correct it on Dec. 2.

With his still-injured left ankle heavily wrapped, Tagovailoa moved relatively fluidly through several footwork drills during the brief media viewing period Friday, including some that included him crossing his feet in a drop-back motion and pivoting right and left. It was a positive sign for a player that was wearing a walking boot and using a medical scooter to get around during last week’s award circuit.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wears a protective boot on his injured foot as he speaks to reporters after winning the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp honor, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Atlanta. Tagovailoa was injured in the Southeast Conference championship game against Georgia. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)(Photo: John Bazemore, AP)

Hurts, who filled in admirably and propelled Alabama to the SEC title with back-to-back touchdown drives in the fourth quarter of a 35-28 victory over Georgia, was also looking particularly fluid during the footwork drills after experiencing a similar injury and procedure after the Tennessee game on Oct. 20.

► Previously injured outside linebacker Chris Allen (knee) was also dressed out for Friday’s bowl practice, his first since suffering a potential season-ending ACL injury to his left knee during preseason camp in mid-August.

Allen was spotted walking into the team indoor facility dressed in a crimson defensive jersey, shoulder pads and shorts, but wasn’t visible during the brief media viewing portion of practice while the outside linebackers worked outside.

Fellow injured outside linebacker Terrell Lewis, who suffered a similar ACL injury in July but returned to practice the week before the SEC Championship Game, was also reportedly spotted going through drills Friday.

But, as was the case three weeks ago, the mere presence of Allen and Lewis shouldn’t be viewed as any sort of indication to what their playing availability is for Alabama’s Orange Bowl semifinal game against No. 4 Oklahoma on Dec. 29.

► A large contingent of the Tagovailoa family was watching practice during the brief media viewing portion of Friday’s practice, including parents Galu and Diane, as well as younger brother Taulia, a four-star quarterback commit from Thompson who is expected to sign with Alabama next Wednesday.

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Thompson's Taulia Tagovailoa during the AHSAA Class 7A State Championship Football Game at Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday evening December 5, 2018.(Photo: Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)